III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 84 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding a free trade agreement between 

the United States and Taiwan. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 28, 2006 

Mr. KYL (for himself, Mr. BAUCUS, and Mr. LOTT) submitted the following 

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding a free trade 

agreement between the United States and Taiwan. 

Whereas for more than 50 years a close relationship has existed between the United States and Taiwan, which has 

been of enormous economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries; 

Whereas on November 16, 2005, President Bush noted the 

strong ties between the United States and Taiwan, saying Taiwan is a ‘‘free and democratic Chinese society’’, 

and that economic reforms have made it ‘‘one of the 

world’s most important trading partners’’; 

Whereas on January 1, 2002, Taiwan was officially admitted 

into the World Trade Organization under the name of 

the ‘‘Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 

Kinmen and Matsu’’ (TPKM), and this accession has reVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:23 Mar 29, 2006 Jkt 049196 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SC84.IS SC84

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duced Taiwanese tariffs and has increased market access 

to foreign investment; 

Whereas on August 6, 2002, the President signed into law 

the Trade Act of 2002, which by request, was extended 

until June 30, 2007, providing for an expedited procedure for congressional consideration of international 

trade agreements; 

Whereas a 2002 report issued by the United States International Trade Commission found some sectors of the 

United States economy, such as exports of motor vehicles, rice, and fish would increase significantly, and other 

food exports to Taiwan would increase by more than 100 

percent, if the United States entered into a free trade 

agreement with Taiwan; 

Whereas the United States is Taiwan’s third largest trading 

partner, and Taiwan is the eighth largest trading partner 

of the United States; 

Whereas Taiwan is the sixth largest market for United States 

agricultural products, while in terms of per capita consumption, Taiwan is the world’s second largest consumer, 

the third largest buyer of United States beef and corn, 

the fifth largest buyer of United States soybeans, and the 

eighth largest buyer of United States wheat; 

Whereas Taiwan has become the world’s largest producer of 

information technology hardware, and ranks first in the 

production of notebook computers, monitors, motherboards, and scanners; 

Whereas the United States is an important supplier of electrical machinery and appliances, transport equipment, 

scientific instruments, and chemical products to Taiwan; 


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Whereas Taiwan purchases nearly the same amount of goods 

and services from the United States as all the countries 

with respect to which the United States is currently negotiating free trade agreements; and 

Whereas the United States and Taiwan have already signed 

more than 140 bilateral agreements: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the 

3 United States should increase trade opportunities with 

4 Taiwan by launching negotiations to enter into a free 

5 trade agreement with Taiwan. 

Æ 


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